Let’s talk about the 1997-98 Topps chrome, Topps 40 inserts. For the second year in a row, Topps applied their Chromium technology to their regular set and produced Topps Chrome, basically a large parallel set. Some inserts from regular Topps were also reproduced in Chrome versions, including this Topps 40 insert set. Here, in ’97-98, Topps wanted to mark 40 years from its first basketball set, the legendary 1957-58 Topps cards. This wasn’t technically 40 years of producing basketball cards, because Topps took a really long break after its 1981-82 set, not returning until ’92-93. So this “40 years of cards” idea isn’t the strongest considering this long gap. The idea behind this insert set was that players, coaches and writers would work with Topps to come up with the 40 best who are currently playing. And just in case you missed the theme, the number 40 really isn’t subtle in the design with the large “40” behind the Topps logo on the front. The first twenty insert cards were found in Series I and the remaining twenty in Series II. The cards are numbered with a “T40-” prefix before the card number. They were 1:6 packs, but there are refractor parallels at 1:18 packs.
Some trivia about this particular Topps Chrome insert set…Does Topps have something against Latrell Sprewell? There’s no T40-7 Latrell Sprewell in the Chrome Topps 40 set, but it’s in the regular Topps inserts. He’s missing. But here’s what’s interesting…they made the same mistake in the Topps Chrome Season’s Best insert set too! Topps forgot to make a Chrome version of the #8 Latrell Sprewell for the Chrome Season’s Best! Seriously, is there a reason why he’s consistently missing from these ’97-98 Chrome insert sets?
Back to this card… Topps does a short, but nice explanation of why the player is chosen as one of the top forty. Here, Topps admits that Mutombo is one of the few selected who isn’t a high scorer. But they couldn’t overlook him since he is the all-time leader in blocks per game. And the fact that he was the Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in the last three seasons is pretty powerful as well. Hard to disagree on this particular selection.
When talking about any Topps Chromium card, we have to discuss the disappointing fact that many of these cards are turning green. Topps’ innovative Chromium technology and patents give cards a unique, metallic shine and a strong reputation. Unfortunately, with this technology came what collectors today call “greening,” or for a touch of humor, “Hulking.” This Dikembe Mutombo card is holding up well with just a touch of green starting around his legs and arms and a bit on his jersey. There’s not too much we can say about greening that’s conclusive. Lots of stories…only half a set turned green, cards turning green after slabbing, cards fine for 15-plus years and then suddenly beginning to turn. Some swear that if humidity and light are avoided at all costs, there is no change but others seem 100% confident that the fate of all early Chromium cards is to eventually turn green. So what can we say for sure? First, it never hurts to avoid best practices and avoid humidity and sunlight when storing cards, whether this is the solution to greening or not. Some good news though! Many factors probably contribute, but there seems to be a reaction between the ink and other materials in the cards causing the greening because this 1997-98 season does appear to be the end of it. Changes were made and cards produced after 1998 aren’t yet affected by this phenomenon.
This Chrome insert set is overlooked because collectors can search for the regular Topps insert set and the Chrome refractors. But no matter which set you search for, the idea of honoring the 1957-58 Topps cards with the forty best current players is a really fun idea. And with these Chrome inserts, collectors can obtain the set easier than the refractors while still having the quality that the Chromium technology brings.
Individual Cards:
You must be logged in to post a comment.